As one of the four pillars of the MCA model, country ownership is crucial for institutional longevity and program sustainability. The ability of the MCC to empower its country counterparts through technical assistance and maintain accountability and flexibility within compact guidelines is a delicate balancing act. In El Salvador, despite robust country ownership in the compact development period, mounting pressure to speed disbursements and the rapid ramp-up of implementation have led to tension regarding the right balance of oversight and capacity building. This is also related to the ongoing discussions within the MCC regarding risk tolerance, particularly in countries with a higher level of governmental capacity such as El Salvador.
Next Section: Country Ownership: Findings